Casual workers who were employed on a regular and systematic basis prior to March 1, 2020, and whose work hours have been reduced by at least 20% due to the COVID-19 pandemic, are eligible to receive the JobKeeper payment. This means that even if a casual worker is not currently working, they may still be eligible for the payment if they meet the eligibility criteria. To be eligible, casual workers must have been employed by the same employer for at least 12 months prior to March 1, 2020, and must have worked an average of at least 20 hours per week in the 12 months prior to the pandemic.
Eligibility Requirements for Casual Workers
Casual workers can still be eligible for JobKeeper if they meet certain criteria. These include:
- Being an Australian citizen, resident, or holder of a specified visa.
- Being employed by their employer on a casual basis on 1 March 2020.
- Having worked for their employer for at least 12 months before 1 March 2020.
- Having earned at least $1,500 before tax in the four weeks before 1 March 2020.
- Having experienced a decline in turnover of at least 30% in the relevant period.
- Not being receiving any other income support payments, such as JobSeeker or Youth Allowance.
In addition to the above criteria, casual workers must also meet the following requirements:
- Be available for work during their usual working hours.
- Be actively seeking work.
- Not have declined any reasonable offer of work.
Casual workers who meet all of the above criteria may be eligible to receive JobKeeper payments of $1,500 per fortnight. These payments will be made until 28 March 2021.
The table below summarises the eligibility requirements for casual workers:
| Eligibility Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Australian citizenship, residency, or specified visa | Casual workers must be Australian citizens, residents, or holders of a specified visa. |
| Employed on a casual basis on 1 March 2020 | Casual workers must have been employed by their employer on a casual basis on 1 March 2020. |
| Worked for employer for at least 12 months before 1 March 2020 | Casual workers must have worked for their employer for at least 12 months before 1 March 2020. |
| Earned at least $1,500 before tax in the four weeks before 1 March 2020 | Casual workers must have earned at least $1,500 before tax in the four weeks before 1 March 2020. |
| Experienced a decline in turnover of at least 30% in the relevant period | Casual workers must have experienced a decline in turnover of at least 30% in the relevant period. |
| Not receiving any other income support payments | Casual workers must not be receiving any other income support payments, such as JobSeeker or Youth Allowance. |
| Available for work during usual working hours | Casual workers must be available for work during their usual working hours. |
| Actively seeking work | Casual workers must be actively seeking work. |
| Not declined any reasonable offer of work | Casual workers must not have declined any reasonable offer of work. |
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JobKeeper Payment Rates for Casual Workers
Casual workers are eligible for the JobKeeper Payment if they meet certain criteria. The payment rates for casual workers are as follows:
| Pay period | Payment rate |
|---|---|
| 1 March 2020 to 28 March 2020 | $1,500 per fortnight |
| 29 March 2020 to 10 May 2020 | $1,500 per fortnight |
| 11 May 2020 to 28 September 2020 | $1,500 per fortnight |
| 29 September 2020 to 3 January 2021 | $1,200 per fortnight |
| 4 January 2021 to 28 March 2021 | $1,000 per fortnight |
To be eligible for the JobKeeper Payment, casual workers must meet the following criteria:
- Be an Australian resident
- Be employed by an eligible employer
- Have worked for their employer for at least 12 months
- Earn less than $1,500 per fortnight on average
- Have lost at least 30% of their income due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Casual workers who meet the eligibility criteria can apply for the JobKeeper Payment through their employer.
Thanks for sticking around and learning about the JobKeeper scheme. I hope it’s been helpful in understanding how it affects casual workers. If you’ve got more questions, feel free to give us a shout. In the meantime, make sure to check back later for more updates and info. We’ll keep you in the loop on all the latest employment news. Until next time, stay tuned for more employment knowledge bombs!